Planning and Responsibility Life after High School, Goals, and Finances 1 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Questions to ask yourself before graduating: 1.Do you know exactly what you want to be? 2.How can you get there? 3.Are you unsure of your plans? Life after High School 2 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Regardless of what you want to be, you will likely be heading toward higher education of some kind. For this reason, you will need to know about:  Careers  Academic preparation for college  How to pay for college  How to manage your financial life after you graduate Life after High School 3 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Be Responsible  Complete your own financial aid paperwork for college.  Be in charge or have equal input in paying your bills and managing your finances.  Do thorough research before making purchasing decisions.  Have your own checking and savings accounts.  Create a personal budget.  Know how to manage your credit and credit score. 4 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Create Your Budget  Savings (amount to save each month)  Fixed Expenses (typically same amount each month): Auto, Rent, Student or Personal Loan, Utilities, and Phone  Flexible Expenses (vary each month) : Food, Clothing, and Entertainment 5 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Manage Your Credit  There are 3 reporting agencies to check your score: Equifax, Trans Union, and Experian  Do not take out too many credit cards or loans.  Pay on time.  Pay more than the monthly amount due.  Make sure the interest rate is low and worth the spending. 6 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Know Your Paycheck Deductions  Taxes  Insurance  Social Security  Medicaid  The amount you choose as an allowance:  Higher amount = Less taxes taken out of each paycheck, but less back at the end of the year.  Lower amount = More back at the end of the year, but more taken out of each paycheck. 7 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Set Goals  Be specific - Define what you want to achieve and when.  Be realistic - Make certain your goals are attainable. Setting unattainable goals will only lead to disappointment when they are not achieved.  Write them down - Keep records of your goals, and mark them off as you achieve them. Writing down goals, reviewing them, and recording your progress can motivate you. 8 Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission.

Additional Reference Texas Reality Check Created for Texas students, teachers, and administrators by the Texas Workforce Commission and the Texas Education Agency.

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, All rights reserved. Images and other multimedia content used with permission. 10  Your “Life after High School Guide” document with your screen shot pasted and 3 paragraphs  Be prepared to discuss your “Life after High School Guide” findings.  Your “Be Responsible” document to be graded by your peers and discussed Checkpoint